Amongst the changes that have been confirmed for the new season are:
- Fast-tracking of club managers and officials reported for technical area misconduct charges*
- A prohibition on pre-match media comments about match officials
- New guidance on harassment of match officials
*Only for clubs competing in the Premier League, Football League and Football Conference National
The first change means that club staff who are reported for misconduct incidents in the technical area will now be subject to a fast-track disciplinary system, replacing the previous standard process.
Now, managers and other club officials should face hearings within three to four weeks of the original offence, shortening the time in which charges can be brought, responses can be gathered and hearings convened. It should be noted that this system only applies to misconduct in the technical area, and not other cases such as those involving media comments.
Clubs are also being advised separately that any media comments by managers, players or any other club officials relating to appointed Match Officials prior to a fixture will no longer be allowed - such pre-match comments will be deemed improper and dealt with accordingly.
Post-match comments in relation to Match Officials and incidents are still permitted provided they are not personal in their nature, imply bias or attack the integrity of the Officials in charge of the match, or in any other respect bring the game into disrepute.
Also, and in line with The FA’s previous concerns relating to incidents where Match Officials are surrounded by groups of players, clubs can now be charged for instances where three or more players surround a referee in a “confrontational manner”. Previously the charge required officials to report “harassment or intimidation” by three or more players.
Finally, in a minor change to existing rules, clubs who receive six cautions/dismissals during a fixture are now able to request a hearing to mitigate against the automatic sanction in the first instance, where clubs previously only had an opportunity to mitigate on the second or subsequent instances of such offences taking place in one season.
